A driver was killed early Monday when a tow truck plowed into a disabled Toyota Corolla on the westbound Katy Freeway near Studemont, according to Houston authorities. Emergency crews rushed to perform CPR on the Corolla's driver, but the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The tow truck driver and a passenger were not hurt and stayed at the crash site, cooperating with investigators.
Houston police told KENS5 that the Corolla was disabled in a moving lane with its hazard lights on when a wrecker, reportedly headed to another service call, slammed into the back of it. Responders and HPD officers tried life-saving measures at the scene. Investigators said the tow truck driver and a passenger were uninjured and remained there to speak with police. Houston police added that they do not currently believe the driver was impaired. Whether any charges will be filed will be decided after the Vehicular Crimes Division finishes its investigation and the district attorney's office reviews the case. The westbound lanes reopened just after 5 a.m.
Move Over law and why it matters
Texas law requires drivers to move out of the lane closest to stopped emergency and service vehicles, including tow trucks. If a lane change is not safe or possible, drivers must slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit, or to 5 mph where the posted limit is 25 mph or less. See the statute on FindLaw for details and the penalties that can apply when violations cause damage or injury.
A pattern of secondary freeway collisions
Secondary crashes in which a wrecker or large truck strikes a disabled vehicle have occurred on Houston freeways before, often shutting down lanes and prompting fresh safety warnings from authorities. Coverage of past incidents, including a midnight freeway horror, underscores the risks stranded drivers and roadside crews face when vehicles break down in active lanes.
What investigators say will happen next
The Vehicular Crimes Division is leading the investigation. Investigators told KENS5 that once their findings are complete, the case will be forwarded to the district attorney's office to decide whether to file charges. Authorities are continuing to process the scene and review evidence as the investigation moves forward.
